Panera Aims For Atherton Street Location

Panera Bread is hoping to open a second State College-area location in the T.J. Maxx Plaza, 1613 N. Atherton St., a Panera spokeswoman said Friday.

The plaza in recent years has housed a T.J. Maxx store, a Mike’s movie-rental and music store, and a Sherwin Williams paint outlet. Construction this spring is overhauling the property to incorporate a 4,600-square-foot restaurant space and a 5,320-square-foot medical office, according to plans filed with Patton Township.

Panera is tentatively planning to fill the restaurant space, but it hasn’t finalized an agreement for the property yet, company marketing manager April Mock said. She said the Missouri-based chain is aggressively seeking the location.

‘If we could open there tomorrow, we would,’ Mock said. The company opened its first State College-area location at West Beaver Avenue and South Allen Street about 10 years ago.

T.J. Maxx, which remains open during the construction and renovations, is expected to retain a presence in the plaza, township Manager Doug Erickson said. Plans submitted to the municipality do not appear to include any Sherwin Williams or movie-rental shops.

It was not immediately clear when the overhaul may be complete. Yunis Realty, the New York-based group listed as handling the property, did not respond immediately to an inquiry about the project.